Source: Liverpool_Echo
Comment: Jame Carragher wakes up to brighter days
THEY were heroes in red all across the Anfield turf. In the face of adversity this was a performance of remarkable spirit and character as Rafa Benitez's side breathed new life into a flagging campaign.[LNB]Nobody epitomised those qualities more than Jamie Carragher.[LNB]The shattered skipper's clenched fists and look to the heavens at the final whistle told a story.[LNB]There was joy and relief in equal measure as the club's worst run for 22 years had been halted in glorious fashion.[LNB]Nobody has been hurt more than Carragher by the Reds' miserable start to the season. After each demoralising setback the 31-year-old has had the pain of defeat etched across his face.[LNB]Carragher's honest admission that at times he has slipped below his usual high standards has been pounced on by critics. His age has been used as a stick to beat him with and he's copped plenty of unfair flak for the Reds' shortcomings.[LNB]The centre-back is his own biggest critic and spends hours watching re-runs of matches and examining his own performance.[LNB]'I know when I've had a bad game because I can't get to sleep at night thinking about it,' he admitted.[LNB]It's fair to assume the Bootle-born defender slept soundly last night.[LNB]Fernando Torres provided the touch of class and David Ngog put the icing on the cake but the inspiration came from Carragher.[LNB]With every crunching tackle, brave block and towering header from their captain, Liverpool grew in confidence.[LNB]Carragher was a colossus and as he put his body on the line countless times in the closing stages it brought back memories of a memorable night in Istanbul.[LNB]Crucially, he also prevented his old mate Michael Owen from providing a devastating late twist in the tale with a perfect rugby tackle. It was the most vital booking of Carragher's career.[LNB]This was also a personal triumph for Benitez.[LNB]The Spaniard has made a habit of pulling off results when his back has been against the wall over the past five years and he did it again.[LNB]A fifth straight defeat wouldn't have triggered his demise but it would certainly have dashed any remaining hope of challenging for the Premier League title.[LNB]If visiting co-owners George Gillett and Tom Hicks were wondering whether the manager still had the support of the players and supporters, the answer was emphatic.
